Seven new International Assistance projects supported by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund

11 June 2025

The third meeting of the Bureau of the twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (France, Slovakia, Barbados, Ethiopia and Mauritania) took place on 11 June 2025. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr Vishal V. Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO.

Six Preparatory Assistance requests, and one emergency request for International Assistance, were examined and approved. A total of nearly US$ 160,000 is granted from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.

An overall amount of US$100,000 is granted for the emergency request submitted by the State of Palestine. The project aims to Enhance the implementation of the 2003 Convention through community-based inventorying and urgent safeguarding measures in the State of Palestine. It focuses on strengthening national capacities through training workshops, updating the national inventory and creating a network of resource persons who will be able to conduct and oversee the community-based inventories and the development of safeguarding plans across the country. This International Assistance request builds on the results and recommendations of a previous capacity-building project entitled ‘Strengthening national capacities for safeguarding Palestinian intangible cultural heritage.’

Among the approved Preparatory Assistance requests for the elaboration of nomination files in view of the submission of the nomination for possible inscription of the element on the Representative List:

Benin is granted US$9,373 to prepare the nomination of Vodun, beliefs, social practices and ways of living.
Burkina Faso is granted US$9,900 to prepare the nomination of Knowledge and skills associated with the manufacture of the Saponé hat.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is granted US$9,926 to prepare the nomination of The Masquerade traditions of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Saint Lucia is granted US$10,000 to prepare the nomination of The Flower Festivals of Saint Lucia (The La Rose and La Marguerite Festivals).
Tanzania (United Republic of) is granted US$10,000 to prepare the nomination of Khanga – a symbol of Tanzanian identity and cultural heritage.

Finally, in The Gambia the Fund will provide US$9,540 for the preparation of the nomination of Palm wine tapping in view of the submission of the nomination for possible inscription of the element on the Urgent Safeguarding List.

These Preparatory Assistance were provided to four States Parties in Africa and two Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in accordance with UNESCO’s Global Priorities.

The States Parties took advantage of the broadening of the scope of preparatory assistance. Following the adoption of the Resolution 10.GA 7 adopted at the tenth session of the General Assembly -States Parties without an element of intangible cultural heritage present on their territory inscribed on the Representative List (excluding elements proposed through multinational nominations) are now able to apply to the Fund for assistance in preparing their first nomination file to the Representative List.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund provides dedicated resources for States Parties to implement a wide range of programmes, projects and activities dedicated to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, such as community-based inventorying, awareness-raising or specific activities such as safeguarding living heritage in emergencies.

Learn more about the International Assistance.